The re-launch of the Mass Appeal print mag and webzine will have articles from your favorite weblogger at DP.com
Let’s get the ball rolling with this piece on the everlasting flyness of the Polo Ralph Lauren ‘Raekwon Snowbeach’.
1993: Could It Have All Been So Simple?
The lifestyle acquisitions never stop even when I come to Atlanta to see ‘Dukes. I always get a few pieces just on the strength that moms stays holding an official Macy*s coupon. Shit, I remember when Macy*s wouldn’t allow their store coupons to be used on Polo Ralph Lauren. Lord & Taylor was the official tissue with the store coupons back in the day but now it’s Macy*s for that reduction love.
The coupon ‘Dukes was holding would give me $20 off a purchase of $50 or more so the game was to find something for $50 and then end up paying $30 which is basically like getting 40% off the ticket. I found a pair of cargos for half off original MSRP($98.00) and this nordic sweater marked down to $46.75 from the original $225 ticket. The only thing I had to do now was find an item to add with each piece to take me above the $50 dollar mark. I went to housewares and picked up some $2 tchotchkes. Done.
The sweater matches up with swag worn on the television show Glee. I think that makes me cool now (or ghey *pause*). Ha! I’m more hyped for the fact I paid $30 for this I.T.
The big homey Jesse Thorn (The Sound Of Young America, Bullseye and in general a guy who FUX with me) asked me what I knew about Polo Ralph Lauren collectors. What?!?
The concept behind the ‘Aspirational Apparel’ phrase I have been using is that Polo Ralph Lauren allows me to imagine myself to be gentile, monied, well-traveled and accomplished. This is the MAIN attraction for everyone who wears Polo RL. Everyone. It gives the wearer a level of class sensibility. Growing up in a blue collar community, wearing Polo RL gave you a white collar when you Put This On.
This is what I dug up on the internets while looking for header images for the Polo Ralph Lauren ‘Explorer Lifestyle’ drop. Europe has been fetishizing the Blackness from day one.
So much so that Europeans will even attempt to tell you what your Blackness means, but I don’t let no Euro or son of a euro tell me what makes my shit real. They ain’t got the right, no matter how much rap them neggars might will listen to.
Notice that the euro had to use the rifle to get his. You think he had the swag to score without raping? PrA’li not. Ha.
There are times when Ralph Lauren designers knock an entire series out of the park. This spring ‘LO blue label collection called Modern Explorer would be one of those times. If God is in the details then these glorious garments are heaven sent.
After I peeped the series online I had to holler at my PRL gurus on the TWits…
These pieces definitely remark 88 Keys style to me. But I actually first saw these joints on Just Blaze back at the Brisk Bodega ‘Star Wars’ event last month. We already profiled the embroidered dragon s/s knit and identified it as an heirloom I.T. but take a look at some other joints from the series. Everything is FIYAHVERKX!!!
Patched up rugby with elbow pads and reinforce stitching shoulder yoke.
Flag patch polo knit with toggle neck closure.
Oh my lord.
Another s/s knit with dragon screen print.
Details, details, details. I need all of these joints, but I can’t afford to put a stack down on cotton schmatte. This series is taking shit back to the hustlers and the boosters.
At least I got the aspiration if not the determination or the resignation.